COLUMN
Postseason football edition: Bracketology begins
November 10, 2009
By Tommy Kopetskie, NorthRaleighSports.com
(Usually, I reserve the Case of the Mondays for a look back at the past week, but in this edition, with the postseason just a few days away, let's fast forward for a second.)
As any fan of high school football will tell you Bracketology isn't only for your college basketball poll in March. This past weekend, following the high school football regular-season finales, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association selected the seedings for each of the eight classifications (1A-4AA) of the postseason.
Since our local public schools only compete in the 4-AA bracket, and all three are located in the Eastern region, let's concentrate on the eight match-ups there and start at the top.
No. 16 Clayton @ No. 1 WF-R
Winner plays the winner of Wakefield and Garner
First off, No. 1 seed Wake Forest-Rolesville might have gotten a raw deal, drawing 4-7 Clayton, the No. 16 seed. I wasn't the only one to think it either. Texting with Wake Weekly sports editor Matt Morgan Saturday night, we both came to that conclusion.
Receiving the first seed is supposed to be a guaranteed cakewalk into the second round. (Think of it as UNC basketball playing Northwestern Delaware State Technology School, Dover Campus — a fictional school I just conjured up — in the first round of the NCAA tournament.)
But in the Cougars' Sept. 11 meeting with the Comets, Clayton had them beat. It took two — dos, in case you prefer Spanish — Hail Marys for WF-R to pull out a late 16-14 victory.
While the Cougars will not sleep on the Comets in their rematch, Clayton won't be intimidated by WF-R's unblemished record.
If WF-R advances, it could also have a rematch with Wakefield — which must defeat Garner — to set up another North Wake County Throwdown.
So, the Cougars could theoretically face two previous opponents in their first two weeks.
Sure, people can say since WFR beat them once, why not twice? Naysayers like me point out revenge-minded opponents aren't likely to roll over.
But if anyone can handle it, the Cougars should.
I've seen WF-R square off against three teams — all of reached the playoff-caliber teams — and the Cougars allowed just three points in three lopsided wins.
No. 9 Wakefield @ No. 8 Garner
Winner plays the winner between WF-R and Clayton
I guess it's just meant to be that these two squads meet in 2009.
After staging a classic 35-28 thriller last season — the Wolverines holding on to defeat the 
Trojans — the teams and their schedules went their opposite ways in '09. The decision to not renew their schedule contract was a shame because the series was starting to bud into a pretty good rivalry.
Instead Garner added Broughton to its schedule, while Wakefield headed out to Greensboro Dudley to play the perennially-powerful Panthers.
Although the Wolverines lost at Dudley, and Garner got the win against the Capitals, it could be argued Wakefield got the bigger benefit.
Why? Confidence.
After standing punch for punch with Dudley in a 14-7 loss, the Wolverines rattled off four consecutive victories. Without that turnaround Wakefield doesn't see the postseason.
Yes, the Wolverines stumbled late, losing three straight, but that was without starting defensive tackle Will Butler and starting QB Connor Mitch.
A text message from Butler Tuesday talking about Friday's match-up ended with "I"M PLAYING."
The Trojans' challenge just got a little harder.
No. 12 Millbrook @ No. 5 Fuquay-Varina
Winner plays the winner of Pinecrest and Durham Jordan
Don't know much about the Bengals?
Well, then, you probably missed running back Cory Hunter's 463-yard performance against Panther Creek.
To say Fuquay-Varina pounds the running game is like saying Sportscenter enjoys showing the occasional highlight or two.
The Wildcats' ability to slow down the Bengals' ground game will likely be the game's biggest sticking point.
Millbrook doesn't need to stop Fuquay-Varina, just hold the Bengals to long third downs where they might have to abandon their strengths.
Fortunately for the Wildcats, they received a great warm-up for Fuquay, facing run-heavy Enloe last week.
Also another positive — as of Tuesday afternoon — sophomore running back Keith Marshall, who's missed the past two games because of a hand injury, appears likely to play.
With a healthy Marshall, Scott Gray — who stood in for the sophomore last week, and scored four TDs — moves back to his natural position at WR.
Now the Wildcats have a full arsenal, the Bengals must respect Millbrook both through the air and the ground.
No. 13 Durham Jordan @ No. 4 Pinecrest
Winner plays the winner of Millbrook and Fuquay-Varina
Pinecrest throttled Enloe in week 1 of the season, and recorded a 9-2 season. Durham Jordan is 6-5 and lost to Enloe 41-7 during the season. I think that says all we need to know about this match-up.
No. 14 Panther Creek @ No. 3 Jack Britt
Winner plays the winner of Broughton and Leesville Road
I saw the Catamounts twice this season, and liked them both times. With Graham Love, Kel Jackson and Kameron Bryant, Panther Creek showed a ton of athleticism and big-play potential. That said, they are facing the defending Eastern Regional champ in Jack Britt, which is coming off its only loss — a 48-42 shootout against Terry Sanford. (The same Terry Sanford which just forfeited its season due to an ineligible player.)
The Buccaneers will be angry, and add in the fact the Catamounts stumbled into the postseason, losing three of their last four, this could be ugly.
No. 11 Leesville Road @ No. 6 Broughton
Winner plays winner of Panther Creek and Jack Britt
In the second week of Cap-7 Conference play, the Pride walloped Broughton 31-6. I'm not saying something different can't happen ... well, actually, that's what I'm about to say.
Now, granted, Broughton (6-5) played a murderous non-conference schedule, playing both Terry Sanford and Jack Britt, and then regrouped to finish 4-2 in Cap-7 play. That should be respected.
But one of those two losses was the 25-point beating against Leesville Road.
Yes, first-string quarterback Josh Stanley led Leesville to the Oct. 2 win, and he won't be back in the foreseeable future, but the Pride have should have the edge in this rematch.
Leesville Road has been the victim of unfortunate circumstances this season whether it be injury, illness or both. But one of their biggest weapons should be back for Friday in safety Ryan Mangum (pictured).
If the Pride can replicate their first half against Wake Forest-Rolesville — when Leesville led 3-0 — it will punch its ticket for the second round.
No. 10 South View @ No. 7 Lumberton
Winner plays winner of Cary and Hoggard
South View went 6-5, with its five defeats coming at the hands of some of the best teams in the state — Bryd, Hillside, Richmond, Terry Sanford and Jack Britt. But last year I saw Lumberton (7-4) last thump Wakefield in the first round 54-21. That image has stayed with me, so I have to lean in favor of the Pirates.
No. 15 Cary @ No. 2 Wilmington Hoggard
Winner plays the winner of South View and Lumberton
I'm not really impressed with any of Cary's five victories, but I also think Hoggard won a weak Mideastern Conference. However, the Vikings gotta get this win because they are league champions in this match-up. But I'm making an upset predication that Vikings lose to the winner of South View or Lumberton. Either one, it doesn't matter.
To see the complete 4-AA bracket, click here.
Back to the Case of the Mondays ....
Things that caught my eye this week
Members of Sanderson boys cross country team pose for photos following the Spartans' victory at the NCHSAA 4-A state championship race at Tanglewood.
1. Better than all the rest
I gotta tip my cap to the Spartans cross country team which won the 4-A state championship Saturday at Tanglewood.
Matt Schick, Philip Hathaway, Matt Giesz, Mitchell Feldman, Andrew White, Ben Boyles and Patrick Crawford put together a great performance to bring home the victory. While no one finished in the Top 10, Sanderson pulled off the win because of shear numbers.
With Schick taking 13th, and Hathaway, Giesz and Feldman finishing 17th, 19th and 20th, respectively, the Spartans seemingly swarmed the finished line, overtaking second-place Broughton.
(Defeating the Capitals made it that much sweeter considering Broughton's storied past.)
These Spartans were clearly a cut above the rest Saturday.
2. Two standout performances
Wakefield's Mitch Mallory and Millbrook's Samantha George both finished like their shoes were on fire at Saturday's 4-A cross country championships.
George appeared to be fading around the 2-mile mark, but the sophomore dug down deep to pull out a third-place finish. Mallory continued his "Fall to Remember" — I'm thinking of trademarking that term — by notching fourth place at states, improving on his fifth-place finish at the Mideast Regionals a week earlier.
Both runners did their school's proud.
3. No Gray area
Subbing in for the injured Keith Marshall, Millbrook senior Scott Gray tallied four touchdowns in a must-have game for the Wildcats.
Without their 42-35 victory over Enloe last week, Millbrook's season is through, but thanks in large part to Gray, that's not so.
Consider that the Wildcats' first playoff game of the season, so Friday's meeting with Fuquay-Varina should be no big deal.
4. Speed to burn
I've seen him play just three times this year, but when Wake Forest-Rolesville's Darren Kirby has the ball in his hands, he's frightening.
Yes, Trea Jones and James Harris are great backs, but it was Kirby who ignited the Cougars Friday en route to a 20-3 win over Leesville Road.
The junior's 74-yard kick return to start the second half turned the game on its head. Note to punters: Just kick it out of bounds.
5. On the line
Not once, but twice the Ravenscroft defense came through in critical situations to preserve a 14-7 victory over Providence Day Friday night. First the Ravens stopped the Chargers in the red zone just before half, then repeated it in the final two minutes of the game.
That's showing guts, grit and determination, and the Ravens' defense should be proud.
Best play I saw in person last week
It's a tough call between Millbrook's Trevor Kovacs' goal against Durham Riverside — which was clutch — or Wakefield's Mitch Mallory's fourth-place run at states. Slight edge to Mallory because it was on the championship stage.
Quote of the week
"I think Coach Green started a thunderstorm one time. He got really mad during one practice."
— Leesville senior Thurston Cox, explaining what his favorite Coach Green moment was.
Quote of the week II
"I just want to go out with a bang, and I told myself I didn't want to get beat by Broughton."
— Mitch Mallory, following the 4-A state cross country meet. The junior finished ahead of all seven of Broughton's runners, an incredible feat considering the Capitals narrowly missed winning the state title by three points.
Three cheers for Millbrook's cheerleading team
The Lady Wildcats captured the top honor, the Carolina Cup, in the seventh annual North Carolina High School Athletic Association state invitational cheerleading championships Saturday.
Fantasy football note
DeAngleo Wiliams you are the man! 66-yard TD run on your first carry of the game, that's awesome. On opposite note: Jacksonville defense, which gave up two late touchdowns, you suck. Make sure to pick up Washington's Ladell Betts in your league this week since Clinton Portis is out. Also give a look at Kolby Smith in Kansas City, who might get some red zone touches with Larry Johnson gone.
Random thought
Aerosmith is breaking up?
Apparently they are replacing Steven Tyler as their frontman.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1625906/20091110/aerosmith.jhtml
Question? Who the hell would want to see Steven Tyler-less Aerosmith? I think the three other band members are in for a rude reality.
E-mail your thoughts to tommy@northraleighsports.com.
